Ever since its reveal at the 2021 PlayStation Showcase last month, God of War Ragnarok, the sequel to 2018's wildly successful soft reboot, has commanded the attention of fans and industry veterans alike. As the Norse arc of Kratos' tale comes to an end, many are counting on the sequel to answer several burning questions, many of which are tied to Odin.
Theories about the king of the Aesir are as diverse as they are plentiful, thanks in part to 2018's God of War and its purposefully vague and foreboding foreshadowing of him. There are very few details known about the god, though the journey of Kratos and Atreus will inevitably bring them on a collision course with him. Even Odin's very appearance is a mystery, but one creative Reddit user gave it their best guess - and what an eye-catching guess it is.
Earlier this week, Reddit user Buffybumcheeks shared a custom-made image of what they imagine the head god might look like, even styling it after the reveals Sony has shown of new cast members like God of War's take on the god Thor. The art is even complete with the name of Richard Schiff, the announced voice actor for the role.
There is a great deal of detail to dissect on this take of Odin, but all of it is worth looking into. The artist manages to perfectly mimic the designs Sony has shared while including some of Odin's most well known traits. Here, Odin is adorned with furs and intricate golden accessories befitting a king of a chilly region like ancient Norse. Horns reminiscent of a viking helmet as well as a horn at his waist are classical callbacks to the culture his mythology hail from.
Of particular interest are the mythological signatures Odin is known for, tools Odin will likely need in order to face the end of the Norse gods. The first is the weapon in his right hand, which can reasonably be assumed to be Gungnir, the Spear of Destiny, that Odin wields throughout his reign. The second is his eye, which Odin traded for knowledge long ago. Additionally, there appears to be some form of decay or corruption around the eye, which really sells that this was a high price to pay on the Aesir's part.
Since God of War Ragnarok will be the end of the Norse saga, Odin will likely prove to be the final antagonist of this arc. Thanks to that, there is a lot of pressure for Odin to deliver on a suitably imposing performance before Kratos' journey takes him elsewhere. That all starts with a design giving a good first impression, and if the final design Sony goes with is even half as good as this one, then Odin is in good hands.
God of War Ragnarok is planned for a 2022 release on the PS4 and PS5
